Why do executives have so much trouble making tough decisions? Or are they just blind to the challenges?
DLD 483: Change is coming
- May 16, 2024
- Tagged as: Alaska Airlines, artificial intelligence, Avelo, CRJ550, Delta Air Lines, Department of Justice, Department of Transportation, DOT, ITA Airlines, jetblue, LaGuardia, LGA, Lufthansa Group, Phoenix, regulators, routes, San Juan, SJU, slots, Trip Report, United Airlines, Zoom Airlines
Is change good? Is it bad? Should you get a refund? Or fly the new routes? Come join us for these conversations and more…
DLD 470: Out of service
- February 15, 2024
- Tagged as: 737 MAX, A321neo, American Airlines, Chicago, China, Copa Airlines, Cuba, Delta Air Lines, Emirates, FAA, Federal Aviation Administration, Frontier, Heathrow, Houston, IAH, India, IndiGo, Korean Airlines, LCCs, lounges, Lufthansa, MCO, Orlando, Philadelphia, PHL, points, Qatar Airways, Raleigh-Durham, RDU, regulators, SAS, slots, ULCC, United Airlines, wetlease
What’s the silliest reason you’ve ever heard of for planes to be removed from service? We might have a new top contender for that title.
DLD 468: More MAX than you can shake a stick at
- February 1, 2024
- Tagged as: 737 MAX, 737 MAX 10, 737 MAX 7, 737 MAX 8, 737 MAX 9, A321neo, Air Europa, American Airlines, Breeze Airways, Dulles, Haneda, Hawaiian Airlines, IAD, IAG, ITA Airlines, lawsuit, Lufthansa Group, merger, Ryanair, slots, Tulsa, United Airlines
The MAX continues to dominate news cycles, but there’s lots more out there also worth talking about.
DLD 464: Got Status?
- January 4, 2024
- Tagged as: AirBaltic, Australia, Boeing, China, credit cards, elite status, Flying Blue, FlyingBlue, HiSky, India, Japan, livery, Norse Atlantic, Norwegian, routes, SAS, slots, South African Airways, Southwest Airlines, train, Trip Report, Turkish Airlines, UAE, Wideroe
As 2023 comes to a close we’re talking about status earned, how we value it, and what the year ahead holds.
DLD 463: Looking to lose weight (restrictions)
- December 21, 2023
- Tagged as: 787, 787-9, A220, A321neo, A350, Air New Zealand, Airbus, Alaska Airlines, American Airlines, Austin, Brisbane, British Airways, business class, JSX, lie-flat beds, Lufthansa Group, Mexicana, Phoenix, podcast, Porter Air, Qantas, routes, Scottsdale, Seoul, slots, Southwest Airlines, Stansted, Starlink, Tel Aviv, Turkish Airlines, union, United Airlines, WestJet
Long flights come with challenging performance requirements. Delta looks to shed some weight restrictions and United may be adding some next year.
DLD 459: Thanks galore
- November 23, 2023
- Tagged as: Alaska Airlines, awards, BNA, Connect Airlines, DAS23, Delta Air Lines, Dubai Air Show, eVTOL, FAA, Federal Aviation Administration, Haneda, Houston, IAH, jetblue, LaGuardia, London, Nashville, Paris, Portugal, rewards, routes, slots, TATL, Transatlantic, United Airlines, Virgin Atlantic, WestJet
Thanksgiving week but we’re all avoiding the worst of the travel challenges, so that’s a win.
DLD 457: Awkward in Austin
- November 9, 2023
- Tagged as: A220, A321, Aer Lingus, Africa, Alaska Airlines, Allegient Air, American Airlines, AMS, Amsterdam, AraJet, Asiana, AUS, Austin, Delta Air Lines, Department of Transportation, DOT, earnings call, greenwashing, Halifax, Haneda, HND, Icelandair, KLM, MIA, Miami, PIT, Pittsburgh, podcast, routes, SAFs, Schiphol, Siam Reap, slots, Titan Air, YHZ
Is there at least maybe, hopefully a good reason for American Airlines slashing its mini-hub in Austin?
DLD 455: Well, that was unexpected
- October 26, 2023
- Tagged as: 767-400, A321neo, Aer Lingus, Air France, Air Greenland, Air India Express, Alaska Airlines, Avianca, Boeing, codeshare, Delta Air Lines, Delta Flight Products, Haneda, Hawaiian Airlines, HND, Horizon, live television, livery, MEA, Qatar Airways, routes, slots, United Airlines, ZipAir
A couple major unexpected events this week caught us off guard, but we’re doing our best to get through it all.
DLD 454: Is there such a thing as real loyalty program enhancements?!?
- October 18, 2023
- Tagged as: 737 MAX, American Airlines, AMS, Amsterdam, ancillary fees, Beond, Bermudair, carbon offsets, Delta Air Lines, economy class, elite status, Emirates, engines, frequent flier, frequent flyer, Haneda, HND, ITA Airlines, Italia Trasporto Aereo, Japan, jetblue, JFK Airport, KLM, loyalty, Mosaic, points, Portsmouth, premium cabin, promotions, PSM, Rapid Rewards, Rolls Royce, routes, slots, Southwest Airlines, Tokyo, TrueBlue, United Airlines
Can loyalty programs actually make changes that seem to make things better for customers, without taking benefits away elsewhere? Tune in to find out.










